The Confusion Around ‘Words Have Power: Talking to Yourself: Self Speak’
The Problem
There’s confusion about what we do in our work or profession. It’s easy, and we understand immediately if you’re a bus driver, hairdresser, geologist, doctor, lawyer or nurse. What if you’re not one of these, and it’s unclear? You want to know more about people, so you dig deeper. You ask, “What sort of bus driver?”, “Are you a men’s barber or a woman’s hairdresser?”, “Oh, you’re a nurse; where do you work?”. Wanting to know more about people is expected.
I remembered months ago, I had a coffee with a guy I hadn’t seen for several years. I knew he was an entrepreneur and accountant and asked him if he could help me with some aspects of my business accounting. He declined because he’s more of a business planner and coach.
Our professions are getting blurred, especially when we move into esoteric disciplines like natural therapies, coaching, and, heaven forbid, psychic and intuitive fields. This is when the story about what we do gets interesting. That’s because we need to understand what that profession is about.
The problem is your self speak.
If you’re like me, you’ll find it difficult to express what you do in a few words. Your challenge is you’re too close because you’re connected to your self-speak. You know what you mean, but you must understand how your terms are interpreted.
Words Have Power
You’re aware of how powerful your words are. Listen to empowering speeches, and you know that. Imagine this, the two of us are having a one-to-one conversation, and I tell you, “You’re a bloody idiot!”. That statement will have a different effect on you than “You’re a beautiful person, and I’m proud of you and what you’re achieving!”.
Action Time: Watch how You’re Talking to Yourself
I’d like you to please watch how you’re talking to yourself and how you use everyday words. That is, listen to yourself speak and what YOU say to yourself. When we talk, please watch what and how you speak, especially if you need something done. For example, the other day, I told my partner I’d stop her son from walking into my consultation room when I had a client. She reminded me that what I told her was not how to talk to him. Well, “Duh!”. The truth is, I didn’t ‘tell’ her son anything. Instead, I discussed it with him, and he agreed and apologised for barging into the room.
I’d like you to go back to your conversation about your profession.
The Confusion Around Words Have Power is Significant
When I spoke about my accounting friend, I needed clarification about what he does. I still am because I couldn’t interpret my friend’s language so that I could understand what he did.
Yes, he’s an accountant, but he doesn’t practice accountancy. I’m a geophysicist, and I don’t have anything to do with geophysics these days. Most people don’t even know that side of me. I’m a psychic reader who helps people discover, reinvent and revive their life purpose. I have another friend who’s a homeopath. She’s a homeopath and so much more; she’s a psychic, an empath, a herbalist, a masseur, and so on. It isn’t easy to encapsulate what she does in a few words.
What do you do?
Your life is so diverse. Sit and think about what you do. What business are you in? I’m in the personal development business, and yet I’m a psychic, a healer, personal development coach and other things.
Could you take time to think about your business identity? For example, when explaining what you do—i.e. bus driver, hairdresser, geologist, doctor, lawyer or nurse—is the description as simple as that? I bet it’s not.
Have an Awesome Day.
Andrew
